Winter has officially arrived in Tallahassee, and you’ve undoubtedly already started cranking up the heat. When turning on your heat in these early days of winter, you may have noticed a slight burning smell or other odd odor coming from your HVAC system’s ducts or heating elements. Given its temporary presence, you may have put it out of your mind once it passed, and if it wasn’t temporary, we trust you tried to determine its cause. Such temporary odors early in the heating season are not necessarily unusual, but you should probably know what might be causing them so that you can react appropriately if the odor is indicative of a problem with your HVAC system or signs of a fire hazard.
With decades of HVAC experience, the expert technicians at Tallahassee’s Air Control Heating and Cooling know all the odors an HVAC system may emit or otherwise cause when its heating function is turned on. Let’s examine the top eight reasons why HVAC systems cause temporary burning smells and other odors when the heat gets turned on in the winter.
1. Settled Dust Burn-Off
The most common odor people tend to smell when they first turn on their heating in the winter is the slight scent of something burning, which usually fades within a few minutes. This odor is caused by the heating of dust particles accumulated on your HVAC system’s heating elements, vents, and other components during the warmer months. The scent usually fades within a few minutes but may return during subsequent heating cycles until all the dust burns off. The odor should not raise any alarms unless it persists beyond a few minutes or continues over many heating cycles, in which case you should try to determine its source to rule out a potential problem.
2. Debris in the Vents or Ductwork
Like accumulated dust on HVAC components, pet hair, debris, and anything that falls into vents and ends up in the ductwork can produce a slight burning smell as it gets heated by the system. This odor becomes apparent after the heat has run for a while and can persist until the heating cycle stops. You can inspect and vacuum vents to remove any visible debris, but if your vents continue to emit the odor every time the heat comes on, you may want to hire a professional ductwork cleaning crew to resolve the problem.
3. Dirty Air Filters
A more pronounced and prolonged scent of something burning could indicate that your air filters are clogged to the extent that they are causing your HVAC system to overheat. When HVAC systems overheat, they typically emit a burning smell, so your first diagnostic step should be an air filter inspection and replacement if needed. If this doesn’t stop the odor, it may indicate another mechanical problem calling for professional HVAC service.
4. HVAC Overheating
Speaking of overheating, mechanical issues can also cause overheating, leading to your HVAC system emitting a burning smell. If your air filters are clean, but the burning odor persists, turn your HVAC system off and let it cool down. Inspect the system and any vents, registers, and ductwork to ensure that nothing else is impeding air flow that could cause overheating. If not, and the odor returns when you turn the heat back on, it’s probably time to call in the HVAC professionals, like those at Tallahassee’s Air Control Heating and Cooling.
5. Mold and Mildew
While not a “burning” odor, if your HVAC system emits a pungent smell akin to a men’s locker room or dirty socks, system components—like the condensate drain—could be infested with mold or mildew. If it’s a musty smell, it might indicate mold and mildew growth in the ductwork. HVAC maintenance can resolve the first issue, while professional ductwork cleaning will resolve the latter.
6. New Heating System Installation
If you’ve recently installed a new HVAC system, you will undoubtedly notice a burning oil during your first few heating cycles, as the heat burns off stray oil of paint coatings on the system components. Should this scent persist or get worse as the season progresses, you should have your system inspected by an HVAC technician.
7. Electrical Issues
An electrical burning odor is distinct from other types of burning smells and one you should pay attention to if it happens when you turn on your HVAC system’s heat. If your system emits a strong metallic stench tinged with burning plastic, you should turn off the heat and try to determine its source. Electrical burning odors can emanate from faulty motors, wiring, capacitors, or other electrical components and represent a fire risk. In the face of such a problem, you should have your HVAC system inspected by a technician to resolve the issue causing this burning smell.
8. Fire Hazard
Any burning smell that intensifies and doesn’t dissipate indicates a distinct fire risk that needs immediate attention. You should turn off your heating, inspect your system to ensure nothing is aflame or smoking, and then call for emergency HVAC service.
For HVAC Peace of Mind, Call the Experts at Air Control Heating and Cooling
To reduce the likelihood that your HVAC system will emit a burning odor when you start cranking up the heat in the winter, consider joining our Air Control Club. Our cost-saving HVAC inspection and preventative maintenance program helps prevent breakdowns, boosts efficiency, and extends your system’s lifespan.
For all your home and business HVAC needs, consult with the NATE-certified experts at Air Control Heating and Cooling. Providing expert HVAC service in Tallahassee, Havana, Quincy, Monticello, and Crawfordville since 1968, you can contact us at (850) 562-1234.